Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ship – USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) – could be sidelined for weeks to repair an engine casualty that occurred last week during an Atlantic Ocean transit.

Lockheed Martin and the service are currently working through the total scope of the repair package for the gearings that connect the ship’s main engines to its water jets and timelines are far from adamantine.

But according to an initial assessment of the damage obtained by USNI News, and two sources familiar with the extent of the repair requirements, that timeline could push the work well into the new year.

“All concerned agree this will be a lengthy process,” read the early assessment seen by USNI News.